Padres react to Dodgers landmark sale

FILE - In this file photo taken April 20, 2011, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles is empty several hours before a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt announced an agreement Tuesday, March 27, 2012, to sell the bankrupt team for $2 billion to a group that includes former Lakers star Magic Johnson and former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten. (AP Photos/Nick Ut, File)
— AP

FILE - In this file photo taken April 20, 2011, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles is empty several hours before a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt announced an agreement Tuesday, March 27, 2012, to sell the bankrupt team for $2 billion to a group that includes former Lakers star Magic Johnson and former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten. (AP Photos/Nick Ut, File)
/ AP

PEORIA, Ariz.  It was impossible to miss the numbers as they scrolled across the television screens in the Padres clubhouse Wednesday morning.

“Dodgers sold to Magic Johnson group for $2.15 billion.”

“That seems like a pretty big number,” said Chase Headley.

The third baseman did the higher math in his head. “That’s a thousand million to a billion ... twice … a lot of zeroes.

“I’m sure they have a business model. It probably means they have the resources to win year in and year out.”

Life in the National League West just got tougher, particularly for teams who have ownership and financing issues of their own.

Since the Padres' higher-ups aren’t commenting on their own problems, they dodged addressing another team’s sale. Queries to the office of Padres interim CEO Tom Garfinkel were not returned.

“We will continue to build the best team we can," said Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes. "We expect to be a very competitive team over the next several years."

Said Padres manager Bud Black: “I think time will tell what this sale ultimately means. But the Dodgers have always been a leading franchise. It’s not going to hurt them.”

The Dodgers sold for almost five times the $458 million value that Forbes magazine placed on the Padres.

“That’s an amazing amount of money in anyone’s view,” said outfielder Mark Kotsay. “But I don’t think it disrupts anything in the National League West. I don’t see them becoming the NL West Yankees.”

Said Carlos Quentin of the Dodgers’ sale: “I think it’s a positive for baseball that it’s done.”

Volquez finishes strong

Right-hander Edinson Volquez became the first Padres starting pitcher to go seven innings this spring, holding the Chicago White Sox to two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two.

However, the first two Chicago hitters singled and tripled and accounted for both runs. After that, Volquez allowed three hits.

“It was a great outing for Volquez after his first 20 pitches,” said Black. “The next 72 (pitches) were outstanding. He took a little time to settle in.”

Volquez says he feels strong. But he said he felt the same way at the end of spring training in 2011 and finished with a 5-7 record and a 5.71 ERA.

“Right now, I’m more confident,” said Volquez. “I’m putting everything together in the strike zone. I want to go deep into games. Last year, the problem was I had 100 pitches after five innings.”

Padres romp

The Padres defeated the White Sox 13-2, getting 18 hits including homers by Yonder Alonso, Headley and Andy Parrino. Alonso’s homer was his first. The two-run shots by Headley and Parrino in a six-run seventh marked the third of the spring for each.

Parrino had three hits while Alonso, Headley, James Darnell, Will Venable, Jason Bartlett and Jeremy Hermida had two hits apiece. Bartlett hit a two-run double.

Headley hit only four homers all last season.

“Chase wants to be more aggressive throughout his at-bats,” said Black.

Then there were 38

Catcher Yasmani Grandal was optioned to Triple-A Tucson and left-handed pitcher Alex Hinshaw was re-assigned to the minor league camp Wednesday morning, reducing the number of players in the major league camp to 38.

Grandal, 23, was one of four players acquired from Cincinnati in the Mat Latos trade. The switch-hitting catcher was the 12th overall pick in the 2010 draft and was rated as the third-best player in the Reds system. Grandal hit .353 this spring with two homers and 11 RBI.

“Being here was good for Grandal,” said Black. “His work with Terry Kennedy, Brad Ausmus and John Gibbons helped him on the defensive side. We saw some great at-bats from him over the last 10 days.”

Hinshaw, 29, a product of San Diego State with major league experience, had a 5.63 ERA this spring. “Hinshaw has a good arm,” said Black. “You can’t deny the talent, 93-94 with a slider. It’s in there. It’s a matter of consistency and the ball-strike ratio.”

Injury update

Wednesday’s news was positive.

Left-fielder-first baseman Kyle Blanks said he was returning to full baseball activity as his left shoulder continued to show marked improvement. Second baseman Orlando Hudson would be in the lineup Thursday. Relief pitcher Luke Gregerson, who has been sidelined several days with back spasms, played catch Wednesday. And starter Jeff Suppan played catch a second straight day in a continued test of his triceps strain.